Altimeters on a cellphone? watch? - Page 2

Particle Man · 01-07-2009, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rider

You cant just have an app. You need the correct hardware built into the IPone to receive the data.. ie GPS receiver.

the iPhone does have a GPS receiver...

Rider · 01-07-2009, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Particle Man

the iPhone does have a GPS receiver...

I don't have an IPhone. That's pretty cool. I'd go that route then.

No need to buy a separate GPS reciever.

Particle Man · 01-07-2009, 12:06 PM

so here's the 1 million dollar question: why?

Homeslice · 01-07-2009, 12:13 PM

Cuz I'm just a data freak. I think it'd be cool to check the altitude wherever I am, even riding up an elevator or biking up a mountain.

That's another question, how often do they re-calculate the altitude? Hopefully it's not just a once every 60 seconds kind of deal.

Krabill · 01-07-2009, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rider

Bullshit. I work in the aerospace navigation industry and I can tell you GPS is dead nuts accurate. It has to be. I see aircraft do Cat III precison approaches using GPS. That is a full autopilot landing so your altitude must be dead on or you die.

An IFR approved gps is dead nuts accurate. Any over the counter handheld unit and/or cell phone gps device is not anywhere near as accurate as an IFR certified gps receiver in altitude.

btw - my plane has 3 gps units in it and none of them are as accurate as the old steam gauge altimeter in the panel. Why? None of them are approach certified.

Particle Man · 01-07-2009, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homeslice

Cuz I'm just a data freak. I think it'd be cool to check the altitude wherever I am, even riding up an elevator or biking up a mountain.

just wanted to make sure you weren't the one flying the next shuttle mission or anything

Trip · 01-07-2009, 01:40 PM

A lot of new smartphones have built in gps receivers, so I am sure there could be options for getting altimeters on a lot of them.

iphone and the blackberry storm are two that do have gps receivers, I will check my storm to see if the garmin program provides an altimeter or if my weatherbug program does.

Trip · 01-07-2009, 02:26 PM

The blackberry storm will report elevation in an app called Blackstar. Apparently there is a bug that inverses the number, but it is still giving you an accrurate number, just with a - sign on the front.

Particle Man · 01-07-2009, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trip

The blackberry storm will report elevation in an app called Blackstar. Apparently there is a bug that inverses the number, but it is still giving you an accrurate number, just with a - sign on the front.

so before I board a plane again I'll make sure to ask the pilot if he/she is aware of that

Homeslice · 01-07-2009, 02:46 PM

Hmm, this looks cool....

01-07-2009, 12:06 PM	#13
Particle Man Custom User Title Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Central NY Moto: 2003 SV650S Posts: 14,959	so here's the 1 million dollar question: why? __________________ I'm not "fat." I'm "Enlarged to show texture." Handle every stressful situation like a DOG: If you can't eat it or hump it, pi$$ on it & walk away.

01-07-2009, 12:13 PM	#14
Homeslice Elitist Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SF Bay Area Moto: Gix 750 Posts: 11,351	Cuz I'm just a data freak. I think it'd be cool to check the altitude wherever I am, even riding up an elevator or biking up a mountain. That's another question, how often do they re-calculate the altitude? Hopefully it's not just a once every 60 seconds kind of deal.